What TTRPG Is Perfect and Complete In One Volume?

[Joshua Randall]

thought of another one,

Agon

For the very specific feel it's going for, it nails it, in one slim volume.

 

[reelo]

I vote Astonishing Sorcerers and Swordsmen of Hyperboria.

Technically I mean the Second Edition, since of the three editions published, only the second is in a single volume.

A man of culture, I see.... [emoji4]

My contribution to this thread: Mythras.
Haven't actually played it yet, but I'd say it fits the bill nicely.

 

[Committed Hero]

Night's Black Agents. Arguably the only thing the author has tinkered with since its release is the chase rules. Other GM-forward releases have only expounded on the core material.

 

[TheSword]

I will say Pathfinder 1e. Many groups played core only. Supplements really just added more options rather than radical new fixes. It’s was a great game and we had many happy years playing it after being turned off 4e.

It was a big book too. Much bigger than what we had seen before. Jam packed.

 

[CleverNickName]

In your opinion, what TTRPG is perfectly well mde and totally complete in one volume? That is to say, not only is the game good, but you don't need anything else to play it even long term.

NOTE: it is not required that the game does not have supplements, just that you feel that it does not need any.

Easy. The D&D Rules Cyclopedia.

 

[darjr]

Mörk Borg and Pirate Borg

 

[GreyLord]

Given how well-regarded this is, and given that we now have several 3e and 5e near-clones, I'm surprised nobody has attempted to go a "complete in one" near-clone of modern D&D. Especially if aimed at experienced groups (meaning that a lot of DM-side material about prepping and running games can be dropped), it feels like that should be doable.

Well, not exactly what you are asking, but the Basic D&D(5e) PDF that was offered over the past few years (most recent version, older versions were split in two, but then they combined them) was basically that. It was basically a complete game in one document (though you had to print it out).

 

[Reynard]

I will say Pathfinder 1e. Many groups played core only. Supplements really just added more options rather than radical new fixes. It’s was a great game and we had many happy years playing it after being turned off 4e.

It was a big book too. Much bigger than what we had seen before. Jam packed.

There are no monsters in the book. I don't think it qualifies.

 

[Autumnal]

Burning Wheel. It ended up not being my cuppa, but wow does it cover the ground.

Stalker. Not the production values I’d wish for, but everything that needs to be in there is.

The 20th anniversary editions of the World of Darkness games.

 

[Thomas Shey]

In your opinion, what TTRPG is perfectly well mde and totally complete in one volume? That is to say, not only is the game good, but you don't need anything else to play it even long term.

NOTE: it is not required that the game does not have supplements, just that you feel that it does not need any.

I am tempted to say Champions 4E (the Big Blue Book) but the fact is it needs more example villains to be truly complete (so IMOP Classic Enemies completes Champions 4E, even though there are ots of other books I love).

I think my real answer is All Flesh Must Be Eaten. There are supplements for it, but they aren't necessary at all. That game is a real toolkit for all kinds of games, not just zombie survival.

What do you think? What game(s) do you think is totally perfect and complete in one volume?

I was going to ask your opinion about the need for enemy-related add ons (since otherwise I was going to mention Champions Complete). I will say if you count a need for that it heavily impacts genres (since it tends to some extent exclude most a lot of superhero games and many fantasy games, since they usually don't have room for extensive lists in those areas (though there are those that do).

I think my tendency would be to list Eclipse Phase 2e; its list of enemies is not extensive, but its large enough to provide useful examples.